What time do you eat dinner?

Marla - posted on 03/16/2010
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I'm having a tough time with this one: I have friends whose kids go to bed around 6 or 7, but we usually eat dinner around that time, and she goes to bed by 9. This is late, I know. However, she's been waking up at 2 for the past week, and I think she's still hungry! Any input moms?

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View replies by

Realist - posted on 02/05/2014

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most people work until 5, 530pm here (actually leaving at 5pm might be heckled as having a half day) and average commute is 1 hour, meaning the father and mother (if working) do not get home until 6:30pm at the earliest. I don't get how the above families can eat together at 5pm (meaning you got home at 4, 430pm to make dinner), must be independently wealthy with your own business or your own schedule.

Dinner time wise we eat as close to 6pm as possible (sometimes stuff happens and it ends up being a little earlier or a little later).

Bedtime wise our son goes to sleep between 730pm and 800pm. He wakes up between 7am and 730am usually.My son too has lately started waking in the wee hours of the morning. Though after a process of elimination we managed to determine it was from him dreaming and not hungry (we have run into that problem previously). He's generally good after a little snuggle.If she's still hungry try a food journal for a week or so and see if what patterns appear and what you can change to help her eat more quantity wise or even more sustaining (proteins and such) foods.

To further answer the question about why some parents put their kids to bed so early, my son goes to bed around 6:30/7pm because we all have to be up and out of the house by 7:15am on the weekdays, so putting him to bed early is the only way he'll get enough sleep. He sleeps close to 12 hours straight at night with a 2 hour nap right after lunch. It kind of sucks on the weekend when we would like to sleep in but he's still up at 6:30am. =)

Oh and to the original poster, we eat dinner between 5 and 6pm, which requires a lot of planning since we don't get home until close to 5, but we try to eat together as a family before my son has to hit that early bedtime. I do miss getting to spend more time with him, so from the time we get home to bedtime is pretty much strictly family time and we try to spend lots of time as a family on weekends.

we have dinner at 6 everyday ive been doing at that ever since she started eaing sometimes its hard to keep to a set time but my baby is flexable. give her bath befor bed ime and her bottle make sure she finishes it.

I did comment that it was my opinion - above all I always say do what works best for you and your children. And in my case, if I put my son to bed that early he would be up by 4 or 5 am. Some children sleep a lot - I am lucky if I can, however strict I am for however long a period of time - get my son to sleep more than 11 hours in a 24hour time frame. So a slightly later bedtime is my only option if there is any hope of getting him down for a nap the next day. I am also 8months pregnant, so getting some tidying up done after he goes down for the night as well as getting at least 7hours a night myself at the least is a juggling act these days. I am lucky if he naps up to an hour during the day!

We aim for dinner around 5:30. During the week my daughter goes to bed between 6:30/7 pm and wakes around 7/7:30am. She sleeps straight thru. On the weekends she tends to go to bed around 7:30/8 pm and wakes around 8:30/9. She also takes a 3 hour mid day nap. If she doesn't get her sleep she is very cranky, but the schedule she is on she falls asleep within 5 minutes of my putting her in her crib. It isn't selfish it is doing what is best for my child, if I wanted to be selfish I would keep her up with us despite her being tired and wanting to go to bed.Since the waking up is something new could she be cutting a tooth or have something else going on? My daughter is showing signs of having seasonal allergies for about a week now and lightly wakes from the congestion but goes back to sleep on her own.

Dana, I know a girl who's two year old sleeps from 630pm-630/7am, and takes a two hour nap during the day. I was confused at first, but I sort of think it's genuis lol. Can you imagine how much stuff she gets done between 630-10pm, and then can still go to bed at a decent time herself? hahaha

Also try a small snack just shortly before putting her to bed - a small bowl of fruit, or cheerios - whatever works with a big cup of water (or warm milk if it will help her sleep better). Should keep her through the night.

Do what works for you! I know of some totally out of control kids who don't go to bed till 11pm or later at this age. Our son also is asleep around 9 - because of our daily schedule. When he is a bit older we might move him to an 8pm bedtime - but this is what works for us right now! I think putting your little one to bed by 6 or even 7 is just insane! Talk about really cutting their day short! Sounds a little selfish too. Although that is my opinion!

My daughter eats by 6pm! Do what works for you and ur family.......personally I don't understand why parents put their children down for the night by 6 or 7? Does anyone do it that early? Can you please explain? What type of schedule does ur toddler have that puts him/her to bed so early? I'm honestly just curious!

we have dinner bout 5 or half five.by the time bed time comes round bout half seven tayor li is crying ot for her bottle.if its bath night she heads to bed around 8.Tip for the last bottle.....crush up liga in the milk.....the liga will fill her up hopefuly for the night.worked for me.try it & see